No fewer than 12 pupils of Madarasatul Nurul Islam, Maikujeri community in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State have been reportedly kidnapped by bandits on a maize farm.
Daily Trust gathered that the children were abducted around 10am on Saturday while harvesting maize on their teacher’s farm on the outskirts of the town.
A source close to the Quranic school said 13 people, including 12 female pupils of the school and the younger brother of the school’s proprietor, Mallam Mainasara, were among those kidnapped.
He said the victims, aged between nine and 14, were abducted as they stopped by a borehole to wash themselves and drink water after leaving the farm.
According to him, the pupils had been working on the farm with their teacher when the teacher received information that bandits were advancing towards the area.
He said the teacher immediately instructed the pupils to return home while he also left on his motorcycle.
“While on their way home, the pupils reportedly stopped at a borehole to wash their bodies and drink water. It was at that point that the armed men swooped on them and whisked them away,” the source said.
It further disclosed that some women were also abducted from another farm in the area.
A resident, Mohammed Adamu, confirmed that the children were already on their way home when the bandits struck and picked them.
An Okada man identified as Tasi’u, who attempted to escape, was reportedly shot and is currently receiving treatment at the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna, the state capital.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Niger Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, revealed that six people were rescued but was silent on the abduction of the pupils.
“On 29th October, 2026, at about 12.30pm, joint security tactical teams during a clearance and rescue operation around Pandogari Rafi LGA rescued six abducted victims who were reportedly kidnapped by some hoodlums on 28th October, 2026 at about 12 pm in their farms at Mahangi village via Pandogari.
“The victims were abducted and taken to Hanawanka forest where they were rescued unhurt. They were later received at Kagara Div for debriefing and medical attention ahead of reunion with their relatives,” he said.
Similarly, dozens of farming communities in Borgu, Mariga, Mashegu and Rijau LGAs have continued to flee their homes following the renewed bandits’ attacks.
The affected farmers told Daily Trust that their farm produce, including rice, soyabeans and maize, is wasting on their farms because bandits have stopped them from harvesting.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
Latest posts by Hassan Umar Shallpella (Regional Correspondent) (see all)
- Bandits Whisk Away 12 Pupils In Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State - November 2, 2026
- Islamic Cleric Blasts Tinubu For comparing himself With Prophet Moses - November 2, 2026
- NCDC Identifies Two Suspected Ebola Cases in North-East - November 1, 2026